Fecundity of Trematodes Parafasciolopsis Fasciolaemorpha in the North of the Non-Black Earth

Abstract

High infection of moose with parafasciolopsosis in the North of the non-black earth region, reaching up to 75%, indicates favorable conditions for the circulation of the parasite in ecosystems, high biological pollution of the environment with eggs Parafasciolopsis fasciolaemorpha. The purpose of our study is to study the fecundity of P. fasciolaemorpha depending on the age of the definitive host and abiotic environmental factors (time of year). Fluke fecundity was determined by counting eggs in the uterus. We divided the invasive moose into 2 categories: young and adult, and the date of production was taken into account also. Fecundity was determined in 230 flukes. From fingerlings, 93 specimens were examined for the presence of eggs, from adult moose – 137 specimens of P. fasciolaemorpha. Statistical processing of the material was performed using EXCEL. The fecundity of the Parafasciolopsis fasciolaemorpha, which is an obligate parasite of moose, is relatively low and depends both on the age of the definitive host and on abiotic environmental factors (time of year). When parasitizing moose fingerlings, the average fertility of P. fasciolaemorpha reaches the highest values in the autumn months (30.1±2.17 copies), the lowest values – in the winter months (5.7±1.16). Fecundity of trematodes reaches maximum values when parasitizing in moose fingerlings – up to 45 eggs in the uterus, in adult moose – up to 25 eggs. The average fecundity of P. fasciolaemorpha marites that parasitize adult moose is 3 times lower than that of fingerlings. In autumn and spring, the fecundity of marites that parasitize adult moose increases to an average of 5.0–12.7 eggs in the winter months, trematodes are released from eggs and the average fecundity of P. fasciolaemorpha is 2.35–3.5 eggs. Low fecundity of trematodes is compensated by a high intensity of invasion.